Pay raise initiative for hotel workers qualifies for November ballot

LONG BEACH - A ballot initiative to raise pay for hotel workers has gathered enough valid voter signatures to be placed on the November ballot, according to the Long Beach City Clerk's Office.

Petitions submitted May 4 had an estimated 27,410 valid signatures. The figure was based on a sample taken from the 31,546 turned in by supporters of the measure that would require hotels with more than 100 rooms to pay workers a minimum of $13 per hour.

City Clerk Larry Herrera said 21,851 voter signatures, or 10 percent of registered voters, were needed to qualify the "living wage" initiative.

On Tuesday, the Long Beach City Council is scheduled to take action on the ballot measure by either sending it to voters or adopting the proposed law directly.

The council can also choose a third option of ordering a report detailing economic and other impacts of the proposal before deciding whether to send it to voters or pass it as law.

The process is outlined in California Elections Code 9215.

Herrera said it is unlikely the council members would decide to pass the measure themselves.